October 15th to October 31st
15, 16 Weeks Old!
The girls have been home almost a month now and we are very busy keeping up with them! They are eating so much it is unbelievable. Mom's milk bank in the freezer has been almost wiped out! We started Annika on half mom's milk and half Enfamil AR (added rice for her reflux) she is tolerating it well. Mia did not tolerate milk and formula so we have her on mom's milk only for now. The girls are eating about every 3 hours, maybe 4 at night. We started out having the girls sleep with us in bed, and that worked for a short time but because they are so noisy at night we now put them in their own room. Dad takes the night shift from about 11pm to 3am and mom has the early morning shift from 3 to 8am or so. This works out nicely since one of us is always sleeping peacefully in our own bed. The other person sleeps in the girls' room so there is easy access when they cry.
Probably the most exciting thing we have noticed is smiles!! They absolutely melt our hearts, and of course whenever we try to take a picture of someone smiling, it never works! We have also noticed when we come into the room to investigate who's crying, the cryer stops when they see us at the door- smart girls! Mom and Dad have been getting out once a day to have some "quiet time". We plan on updating the website every month on their birthday. Hopefully we will have time to do this since it is hard enough sometimes just to take a shower some days! We are so happy the girls are home, they are very happy and also very healthy. We plan on keeping them isolated pretty much this winter to avoid RSV/colds/flu and can't wait to show them off this spring! We have had grandma and grandpappy Sweetland as well as grammy and poppa Sloane come visit. Auntie T and Uncle G also flew up from San Diego to see the girls. They love all the attention they get and the extra "hold time" when visitors come over. That's all for now, talk to you again in November!
Week of October 8th
14 Weeks Old!
Everybody is Home!
Annika came home this past Wednesday from Kaiser Santa Rosa. 100 days in the ICN!! Mom, Dad and Mia went to pick her up that morning and we all came home, ate some lunch and took a well deserved nap! The girls love being home together, sleeping in their crib (except when mom insists they lay in bed with her). Annika is on some medications for her reflux but seems to be eating really well without any problems. We are so thankful that the girls are healthy and happy. We owe so much to the ICN doctors and nurses, we can never repay them. Mom and Dad have had several sleepless nights with the girls but we wouldn't want it any other way. We love seeing them mature every day. Mia enjoys watching Peanut, our cat, walk around with baby socks in his mouth. Annika heard a bird outside and her eyes got huge as she turned to look where the noise was coming from. We can't wait for them to grow up but we also want them to stay small! We will keep updating the website with pictures of the girls as we have time (probably on a monthly basis). Thank you to everyone who has emailed us and wished the girls good thoughts. We have saved all the emails and will add them to their baby book.
Week of October 1st
13 Weeks Old!
Annika 5 pounds 7 ounces; Mia 4 pounds, 4 ounces
Mia is Home!
Miss Mia came home Friday!! As you can see by her going home picture, she was happy as could be! We had a long night with her trying to adjust to no alarms going off and actually having a dark room to sleep in. She was up most of the night but we don't care-we're so happy to have one of our girls home! Mia is quite the cuddle bug and insists on being held or laying with us, she does not like to be put in her bassinet! Annika was transferred up to Santa Rosa Kaiser so we could all be close together for feedings. She is scheduled to be discharged sometime this week depending on her bradycardia episodes. She has to have no episodes for 7 days prior to discharge. We are crossing our fingers! Mia has been telling Annika not to worry about coming home, she has been breaking us in. We have been visiting Annika every day, mom goes every few hours during the day to feed while dad takes care of Mia at home. Annika has been doing much better on her medications for her reflux. She seems to be back to her normal self again. We are looking forward to her coming home, sleepless nights and all!